After Tomorrow

          So, one of my favorite events of the year is an event called Bethlehem Revisited. A family out where we live has a fairly large piece of property, and they have accumulated over the years stations around their property as the places of the story of Jesus. And each first weekend of December, they have a bunch of groups of people out there, and actors act out the different parts of the Christmas story, starting with a few of the major profits, through the nativity story, and then even through his crucifixion and resurrection. It is a wonderful ministry, and it has been very effective. Many of the churches in our town have given people and animals (yes, we have actual animals for the market place), food, and much more. Lots of effort is put into this, and I have sang in the angel choir (like where the angels came to the shepherds) for about five years now, and my friends and I have officially decided that this is one of our most very favorite events of the year. It is not only a great adventure, social event, and ministry, but so many, including me feel close to God there; a lot of singing goes on there, and since singing is one of my very favorite things to do is sing, that lends its self to my love of it. The harmony, the joy, the worship is a wonderful experience, and something that  is looked forward to in my heart all year long.

           However, once you have a wonderful weekend of worship and friends and all that.....
and then nothing. It is done. It can be kind of depressing for an extravert. But I didn't want to get depressed this year. I was determined to not get depressed. Because, trust me, it is not fun to be depressed.

          One of my major problems that I have is that I am always forgetting to read my Bible. don't get me wrong, I love the bible, I believe in it, it really encouraging to me, and I am only hurting myself when I forget. But I do forget.

          However, I found this passage, and it was encouraging, because another thing I do when I am depressed is to just plop out if you know what I mean; not busy myself with anything, which incidentally is just about the worst thing you can do when you are depressed.

          But you know, it gave me great encouragement to read Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 which says:

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.[a]

          God Has given us work for a reason, and he has made the rest of life for a reason; yes Bethlehem revisited is wonderful, but life can still move on with greatness. "To be joyful and to do good as long as they live." 

         We needn't be depressed just because something great had ended. All we need to to do is make the rest of our life great, to find hope in Christ, and live well.

         God already has tomorrow planned out; all we must do it live it.

God bless,

~ Claire R

"...take pleasure in...toil—this is God's gift to man." v. 13 b

So, it snowed a couple days ago. YAY!! But... this is actually a picture from last year. :) But it still snowed!!!

~ The World that He Hath Made

The beauty of the world I see
penetrates deep into me 
a sky so clear, bright and soft
to hold majestic clouds aloft.

This sky dost touch the ground of gold

Its presence always softly bold.

These trees speak of lasting life

through storm and heat, all kinds of strife.

Streams and creeks that flow around

Springs that flow right from the ground. 

Grass that glides with wind along

To blow and guide all life long.

Seasons allow the change to run,

To see that beauty has begun;

They come and go like day andnight;
Their hope is like the moon so bright

That yet in deep and darkness night

The moon shows promise through its light, 

That day will surely come again 

(He'll hide is face to say just when).

And oh that sun in majesty 

That spreads it light so all might see

The world that's simply our's to know

And from this place our life to grow.

We'll praise thee, God, who let's me see

The world that you hath made for me. 

                   ~ Claire R        10/8/16

~ Welcome!!

Welcome, one and all!!
So, this is my first blog on blogger, and I am really exited! I hope that this blog will be an inspiration to all!  

          If we believe that all things are in front of us for a reason, and there is a God who loves us, we can truly be blessed by everything. The bible says that "If God is for us who can be against us?" We see death and pain as hard and horrible things, and they are; but we also know that God will not put in front of us what we cannot handle, and he will not leave hardships for us to face ourselves. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, and time for every matter under heaven." If we learn to believe that All things have a purpose and a reason, then we can truly, by the grace of Christ, be blessed in all times. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace."

"If we leave everything in God's hands, eventually we 
will see God's hand in everything." ~ Anonymous